\n
\nSuperstar summer additions Miralem Pjanic and Andriy Yarmolenko opened their ADNOC Pro League accounts, while four-goal Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba reinforced his elite striking credentials in an electric Matchweek 2.<\/p>\n
\nAll eyes were on runners-up Sharjah and their aforementioned fresh recruit from Barcelona, who did not disappoint in a 3-0 win over Baniyas.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nLaba and Yarmolenko proved pivotal in the division\u2019s widest victory margin since March 2018, meanwhile, helping champions Al Ain dismantle 10-man Al Dhafra 7-0.<\/p>\n
\nAli Mabkhout notched a 15th top-fight hat-trick \u2014 and missed a penalty \u2014 in Al Jazira\u2019s eventful 4-2 victory at Khor Fakkan. Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai Club\u2019s youngsters helped them fight back to prevail 2-1 at Dibba Al Fujairah, and Leandro Spadacio\u2019s sharp finish saw dark horses Al-Ittihad Kalba stun Carlos Carvalhal\u2019s Al Wahda 1-0.<\/p>\n
\nGilberto converted either side of the interval in Al Wasl\u2019s 2-1 win at promoted Al Bataeh, and former Bayern Munich midfielder Thorsten Fink opened his Al Nasr account with a 2-0 victory against Ajman.<\/p>\n
\nHere are Arab News\u2019 top picks and a talking point from the weekend action:<\/strong><\/p>\n\nPlayer of the Week: Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba (Al Ain)<\/strong><\/p>\n\nA reminder about football\u2019s Magpie syndrome was emphatically delivered this weekend at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.<\/p>\n
\nUnderstandable excitement has surrounded Pjanic, teammate Paco Alcacer and Ukraine maestro Yarmolenko. This could magnify further ahead of the transfer deadline on Oct. 4, with weekend gossip centring on ex-Brazil and Chelsea star Oscar\u2019s potential hire by Sharjah.<\/p>\n
\nLaba\u2019s quartet of strikes in the Garden City, however, came as a counterpunch to this unremitting focus on the new.<\/p>\n
\nThe Togo striker signed as an unheralded free transfer from Morocco\u2019s RS Berhane in July 2019. His achievements since have defied expectation and confirmed a big name is no sole guarantor of success in Middle East football.<\/p>\n
\nCourt intrigue did, though, follow muted celebrations.<\/p>\n
\nThe 30-year-old\u2019s third \u201csuper hat-trick\u201d in the ADNOC Pro League\u00a0moved him onto 62 goals in 65 run-outs. It also proved last season\u2019s leading marksman and Golden Ball winner \u2014 for best foreigner \u2014 has not been impacted by last week\u2019s late missed penalty in the opening 1-1 stalemate at Ajman.<\/p>\n
\nPjanic, Alcacer and Yarmolenko, for all their prestige, still have plenty to do if they are to match Laba\u2019s seismic impact.<\/p>\n
\nGoal of the Week: Miralem Pjanic (Sharjah)<\/strong><\/p>\n\nA spot-kick loaded with symbolism provided this matchweek\u2019s enduring legacy.<\/p>\n
\nGoals of superior quality were conjured across the UAE\u2019s stadia than Pjanic\u2019s penalty: Kalba\u2019s spritely breakaway at Al Wahda, stunning interplay between Ahmed Barman, Yarmolenko and Soufiane Rahimi for Laba\u2019s third plus Yuri Cesar\u2019s rocket at Dibba for Shabab Al-Ahli.<\/p>\n
\nThe Bosnia and Herzegovina international\u2019s effort against Baniyas from 12 yards was more prosaic. Yet it showcased a searing direction of travel by the 2018-19 title winners, who appear determined to attain domestic domination and AFC Champions League glory.<\/p>\n
\nPjanic fired past the fingertips of Fahad Al-Dhanhani approximately 72 hours after his free transfer from Barca garnered global attention. This was the 32-year-old\u2019s first club goal since 2019.<\/p>\n
\nSharjah put on a show in the opening stanza of the game, and Pjanic was central to a dominant display where UAE prospect Majed Rashid and Brazilian youngster Luanzinho looked unstoppable.<\/p>\n
\nThe elder statesman, meanwhile, registered a pass accuracy of 91 percent and prevailed in four duels.<\/p>\n
\nFoundations are being built for future glory.<\/p>\n
\nCoach of the Week: Leonardo Jardim (Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai Club)<\/strong><\/p>\n\nJardim looked an unlikely contender for this accolade after a pained first hour of Friday\u2019s debut contest at Dibba\u2019s 100 million dirham ($27.2 million) new home.<\/p>\n
\nMontenegro defensive midfielder Aleksandar Scekic\u2019s imposing header on the stroke of half-time was just reward for Zoran Popovic\u2019s counter-punching troops, who had got the best of their visitors\u2019 galaxy of stars.<\/p>\n
\nAmple doubts were, at that point, being cast on the ex-Monaco and Al Hilal tactician, amplified by Shabab Al-Ahli\u2019s preceding 2-0 loss to Sharjah.<\/p>\n
\nJardim\u2019s young substitutes\u2019 would, however, ignite the Portuguese\u2019s reign.<\/p>\n
\nFormer Flamengo youngster Cesar required 10 second-half minutes to thump home the equaliser from 30 yards. A deft no-look pass for fellow rookie Cheickna Doumbia sealed a resolute victory late on.<\/p>\n
\nJardim can be criticized for a conservative starting side, but his interventions were excellent and effective. This was crisis management at its best.<\/p>\n
\nAmoory\u2019s flickers of life are fuel for football romantics<\/strong><\/p>\n\nCertain sights will turn even the most seasoned ADNOC Pro League followers misty-eyed.<\/p>\n
\nAn Omar Abdulrahman in full flow will do just that.<\/p>\n
\nAl Wasl\u2019s faithful were treated to the 30-year-old turning back the clock in Friday\u2019s 2-1 triumph at Bataeh. Quick feet and a sharp brain was key, from centre midfield in Juan Antonio Pizzi\u2019s exuberant 4-3-3 formation, to Gilberto\u2019s clincher.<\/p>\n
\nIn this mood, there is no one like him.<\/p>\n
\nUAE football romantics \u2014 and, especially, national team coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena \u2014 pine for his permanent return to form. But will we actually witness a late-career resurgence?<\/p>\n
\nAl-Wasl are Amoory\u2019s fourth club since a pained exit from Al Ain in 2018. Serious injury and treatment off the pitch, rather than magical exploits on it, have defined the lost years since.<\/p>\n
\nStellar cameos throughout Shabab Al-Ahli\u2019s AFC Champions League group stage exploits this April stand as glorious exceptions to the dispiriting norm.<\/p>\n
\nBut suitable foils have been discovered at Zabeel Stadium in Brazilian striker Gilberto, fit-again UAE colleague Fabio De Lima, bountiful talent Ali Saleh and ex-Argentina Under-20 wide man Tomas Chancalay.<\/p>\n
\nAn acid test of Amoory\u2019s comeback will be the Bur Dubai derby on Oct 1.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n
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